SERIE A MATCH REPORT

Siena earned a potentially decisive victory away to Cesena, but the turning point penalty and red card are steeped in controversy.

This was a crucial battle to avoid the drop and Cesena were in dire straits. Propping up the table, they also missed VincenzoIaquinta, Adrian Mutu, Roberto Guana, Steve Von Bergen and the suspended trio of Daniel Pudil, Marco Parolo and GianlucaComotto. Therefore 17-year-old TommasoArrigoni was in the starting XI. Siena only had to do without GaetanoD’Agostino, Francesco Bolzoni and Pablo Gonzalez.

Siena were wearing their light blue away strip and threatened when MattiaDestro took on his defender, but Giorgi didn’t make the most of it with a wayward header.

Francesco Antonioli then had to parry from point-blank range on a Franco Brienza corner. The first genuine scoring opportunity came after 22 minutes, when GianlucaPegolo did very well to deny Rafael Martinho from Mario Alberto Santana’s through ball.

Martinez picked up an injury and had to make way for Simone Del Nero, creating further problems for a decimated Cesena.

Dominique Malonga just failed to get his head to the Martinho cross, allowing Pegolo to block.

There was a turning point when Luca Ceccarelli went into a sliding tackle on EmanueleCalaio, earning a penalty and red card. However, replays suggest he got the ball and only made contact with the striker on the follow-through.

Antonioli palmed Claudio Terzi’s penalty on to the upright, then the ball eventually rolled to Franco Brienza for a tap-in. To add to the controversy, Brienza appeared to be offside.

There were no doubts about the second goal, as Brienza’s delightful assist found ErjonBogdani for a volley in off the underside of the bar. It was a special goal for Bogdani against his former club.